A young Black girl reflects upon the experience of going to church. She is required to dress up and perfect her hair as much as possible. There is a special danger in the large step going up to the door, and other women of the church are impressed when she manages not to fall. The stiffness of church is contrasted with the exhilaration of exploring Hamilton Avenue. The girl plays a game with herself, trying to avoid stepping on cracks in the sidewalk because she genuinely believes the old adage that they will break her mother's back. Being run over by cars is a consistent threat however, and the girl knows that a neighbor girl was run over into a fence and the spot where it happened is still visible. Her friend Tommy pushes her down into the sidewalk and her knee begins to bleed. She is, however, more anguished over the fact that she is trapped in a web of cracks and there is no way to escape without hurting her mother. She told Tommy of her fear in confidence and he betrayed her. She begins to emotionally break down, but tomorrow she will be at church with all the women of her community and will hear a woman playing the tambourine loudly and joyfully.